Hey everyone. Just forgot to put a disclaimer out there, though I am not sure why I need one. I don't think anyone on this site every actually believes anyone here owns any of the stuff they base their writing off. But anyways, Hunger Games isn't mine. Leave a review to let me know what you think. I am all for feedback and I love being told how I can improve. Anyways, here is the next chapter.
"Good Afternoon, Ms. Mason." Johanna looks up at her torturer. She is sitting on the floor of her cell. Not like there is a bed to sit on. She stays on the ground looking up at him.
"How are you?" He asks and she rolls her eyes.
"Just peachy," Johanna bites back.
"May I sit down?" He asks pointing to the floor across from her.
"It's not really up to me now is it? I don't exactly have much say in what goes on around here."
"That's not entirely true, Ms. Mason. You have a lot of power here."
"Please elaborate."
"If you were open to having an honest conversation with me and answer some questions, then we wouldn't have to resort to less than civil tactics."
"So you admit it."
"Never once have I claimed to say that torturing is humane but it is effective."
"Has it been effective?"
"I've learned a lot about you these past few months, Ms. Mason. But that isn't something I want to talk about."
"Then why have you graced me with your presence?"
"I want to learn about the Hunger Games. What it is like to be in the arena."
"Why would you want that?" Genuine surprise flashes across her face.
"Tell you what, I'll make you a deal. I ask you a question, you'll ask me a question. I'll answer honestly only if you answer honestly."
"And if I refuse to play this game?"
"Or if you lie, we'll resort to a normal session," he says and Johanna ponders this.
"Very well," Johanna agrees because she doesn't know how much more physical pain she can take. He has the cell door opened and he sits across from her, leaning against the bars. The door is left open and he waves away the peacekeepers. Johanna raises an eyebrow.
"Aren't you brave?" Johanna says mockingly and he shrugs.
"Not brave, just I know you won't do anything."
"Oh?"
"You know you wouldn't make it very far and let's face it, if I were to die, who would you have to talk to?" He smiles and she rolls her eyes but smiles as well.
"Okay first question, may I call you Johanna?"
"What? That's your first question?"
"Technically you just asked two but I'll let it slide. Yes, I don't believe in formalities but I still want to respect you." Johanna scoffs at his answer.
"If you truly respected me you wouldn't torture me."
"You may find that I treat you badly but I have never once disrespected you. I have always told the truth and been forthcoming in my dealings with you. I know you have your secrets you must keep and you'll try to keep them with all your might. And I certainly have never degraded you."
"Is that so?" Johanna raises an eye at this.
"You never answered my question. May I call you Johanna?"
"Sure. Why not?" Johanna says with a shrug.
"Perhaps because it humanizes the two of us. But don't fret dear."
"I had no intention to." But Johanna is amazed at his open discussion with her. Informing her of different psychological techniques isn't exactly normal torture procedure.
"Oh and to elaborate, Johanna," he emphasizes the use of her first name, "Have you ever noticed that not once have I forced you to relive your family's death or your time in the games? Not once have I, or allowed anyone, to sexually violate you." Johanna opens her mouth but can find no retort.
"Face it, Johanna, I certainly am not the monster here." He says with a smirk and Johanna grits her teeth. She realizes his talent with words exceeds Peeta's, even Snow's.
"My turn to ask a question," she declares and he nods.
"Ask away then."
"What do you hope to gain from me here? From any of us?"
"Answers. The truth. You know, the games are an interesting tool. A way for the Capital to control the Districts; but you may not notice that it controls the citizens of the Capital as well. It keeps them happy and in a false sense of security but they are in just as much danger as the people in the Districts. Because if they were to ever develop empathy, the government would be in fear of being overthrown."
"That didn't exactly answer my question."
"No it didn't. I hope to gain understanding on how the Games can have so many different outcomes, so many permutations. And what better way to gain an understanding than from actual victors. The only people capable of answering this question."
"I think you're overestimating us."
"Either way, it can't hurt to try. My turn. Tell me Johanna-"
"Wait! I want to add a new rule." She says and he looks intrigued.
"What did you have in mind?"
"We cannot put the other in a position to lie."
"Sounds fair. I accept. Now, Johanna, when you heard the announcement for the Quarter Quell, what went through your mind?"
"Hatred. Deep hatred. I was promised I could live in peace and then that was revoked."
"You felt nothing else? It is a follow up question so you can answer the original question fully and honestly." He says at her look of objection.
"Fear. I was scared to go back in. The Games destroyed my family."
"Thank you for your honesty."
"What is your name?" She asks bluntly.
"I cannot tell you my last name for breaking prison regulations but my name is James."
"James?"
"Yes James. A name of a king."
"So power is what you want?" Johanna asks and he shakes his head.
"Not your turn, Johanna." He warns her and she nods, still accepting the terms. "In terms of strategy for the games, why were you all so insistent on splitting Mr. Mellark and Ms. Everdeen?" Johanna thinks about the answer carefully so as not to spill anything.
"Katniss is an open book. It wasn't hard to guess what the two of them were talking about on the beach. We feared that if we let them wire the coil themselves or if I were with the two of them alone, they'd abandon the team and the plan would fail.
"What plan?" James interrupts and Johanna glares at him.
"You already asked a question, James." She smirks at him and he nods in understanding. "This way we could ensure everyone's safety on our team without worrying about Katniss messing it up."
"You were not worried about Mr. Mellark?"
"Peeta is too nice. He-you're getting ahead of yourself. A little eager I see," Johanna's trademark smirk shows and James smiles back.
"I told you I was very interested in this topic."
"You're weren't kidding. What is it like, doing this job everyday?"
"This job is unique, to say the least. My parents were huge Games supporters. And they always wanted something better for me, to have a better life than they did." Johanna looks at him like he was a little crazy.
"I know what you're thinking, Johanna, and yes it is crazy. The Districts suffer under Capital rule and here in the Capital, we live safe. But even within the Capital there is dissent, people unhappy with the way things are run. Do you remember last year during Mr. Mellark's interview with Caeser and he asked him to see if he smelt like roses. That was a huge deal, seeing two men interact in such an intimate way." He says and Johanna actually is interested in to see where he goes with this.
"Johanna, open displays of homosexuality are frowned upon here. That's reserved for savages," she winces at the word. "With that said, President Snow is actually much more accommodating to these sorts of requests. So I know you never had to experience this, but for Mr. Odair, he did have intimate relations with both women and men." Johanna fails to see how this connects.
"Connecting everything, Johanna, open displays of homosexuality are swiftly ended. Do you honestly think accidents only happen in the Districts?"
"I never thought about it."
"Of course not. You're too busy with your own problems. But here it's not so fancy dancy in the Capital. We are just as much under threat of fire as are you. Remember when I told you the Games were a way not only to control the Districts, but Capital citizens as well? The Games show off the power over the Districts and how easily it could be the Capital citizens who are at the end of the Capital's wrath if they too do not conform." James takes a breath before continuing.
"Do you know what happens to people who don't support the games? Here in the Capital?" Johanna shakes her head.
"No. How would I?"
"You're right, how would you? You think, with the amount of people in the Capital, that not a single person hates the Games just as much as the people in the Districts. Just like how not every single person from the Career Districts are malevolent, like Mr. Odair, not every single person in the Capital is evil. We've been brainwashed from a young age. It is not our fault. And yet you blame all of us as a whole," James voice wavers ever so slightly but his volume slowly increased.
"Those who do nothing to stop injustice, demand it to be done," Johanna says evenly.
"And it looks like it's the pot calling the kettle. The point of the matter is the Games control everyone and it gives all of us a false sense of security. It makes it seem we are protecting ourselves from the Districts but in reality the Districts can't do anything. Couldn't do anything until Katniss Everdeen volunteered for her sister. And like that, everything began to unravel. Now Capital citizens are in a very real danger as is everyone around the country. We are in the midst of a civil war where one side will lose. And tell me, what will become of the losers?"
"Well if the Capital wins, they'll kill us all."
"Perhaps, but then to kill you all we would lose our economy, everything about our way of life. We can't actually afford to kill all of you. Sure the leading rebels, but every single citizen, that doesn't make any sense. But you, Johanna, if you're successful in your plot and the rebels win this war, what will become of us, the people in the Capital?"
"You can't ask me that question, it's against the rules." Johanna says evenly.
"This is war, Johanna, and all is fair. But there is no way you would let us live. We would not be spared. No one, because we just were born in the wrong place."
"You were born in the wrong place?" Johanna asks in disbelief.
"Yes, for you have a better chance of survival than I do. You believe your leaders to be righteous when they would bomb the Capital in a heartbeat, killing everyone there. Killing children if it meant winning the war."
"You've killed children. The Capital has pit children against each other for 75 years."
"But we know that. Johanna, we haven't once lied about that. We do not claim to be righteous or innocent. But you are fighting and sacrificing yourself for people who are no more virtuous than us. They would gladly kill millions of people and still claim it was in the name of justice. That isn't justice, that is revenge."
"Don't we deserve it?"
"What? Revenge? Revenge doesn't solve anything, Johanna, you have to know that!"
"Why do I have to know that?"
"Because there will come a time where you will have the chance to get revenge and I urge you not to take that chance. Think about your family, what would they want?"
"How dare you speak about them!"
"Would your family approve of you being in league with murderers?"
"I am a murderer. Don't you remember?"
"Don't you remember what it felt like to murder someone? Did you enjoy it?"
"What are you getting at?"
"I am saying that tell me what the rebels are planning. Where are they? You have the power to save millions of lives Johanna. You have the power to redeem yourself for all the innocent people you murdered. You don't have to be in service with monsters, Johanna."
"What are you then?"
"I am a person trying to keep millions of people safe."
"So am I!"
"Johanna, please, you can save millions of lives. Your rebel government is no better than the current government except they are deceitful where as we have always been honest. That is a virtue they do not possess." James and Johanna sit in silence for a few moments before James sighs defeated. "You're not required to answer that, Ms. Mason." Johanna raises an eyebrow.
"Ms. Mason? Are we no longer on a first name basis?"
"No. It is a dehumanizing tactic, which makes torturing you all the easier. Tell you what, answer my most recent question and I'll do nothing more."
"Screw you." James sighs and stands up.
"Very well, Ms. Mason. But know this, you have just sentenced millions of innocent people to death. Enjoy that on your conscience." James stands and leaves the cell, slamming it shut but just before leaving he says, "They won't trust you. If the rebels really wanted you, they would have saved you by now. But you're a murderer; a cold blooded one at that. And they're concerned the Capital will have turned you if your times in the arenas hadn't already. Mark my words, Ms. Mason, if the torture doesn't kill you, they certainly will."
James stalks off and Johanna stands up and punches the cement wall. Her hand screams in pain but she doesn't care, not anymore. But James's words run through her mind. She hasn't been rescued yet. They left her in the arena and they've left her here to die.